Method of and apparatus for burning carbonate rock



March 31, 1931. 4 Q H, N|| Es 1,798,802.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BURNING CARBONATE ROCK P led April 20. 1925 Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITEDv STATES PATENT ori-ici;

GLENN H. NIIEB, 0F RIDGEWOOD, NEW IRSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AB- SIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO DOHERTY RESEARCH COMPANY, A. CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE, .A ND 0F ONE-HALF CH'USETTS T0 ARTHUR E. TRUESDELL, 0F PITTSFIELD, MASSA.-

METHOD OF ANI) APPARATUS FOR BURNING CARBONATE ROCK Application led April 2U,

4This invention relates to a method of and an appara-tus for burning carbonate rock, more particularly the invention relates to lime kilns of the class known as a continuous operating, long flame kiln, and comprises a Vmethod of and an apparatus for burning limestone to produce lime therefrom, in which the operation may be carried on more economically and at a lower temperature than has heretofore been attained in kiln operation.

ln the commercial burning of limestone to produce lime therefrom it is essential that the temperatures during the burning operation be regulated within certain well defined limits, in order to obtain a satisfactory product. If the limestone` which is being treated is not sufficiently heated there remains in the product some of the undecomposed limestone or calcium carbonate which does not slake with water and which renders the lime lean If, on the other hand, the limestone is overheated re-carbonation and l semifusion take place, and the lime product combines with water Very slowly or inc ompletely, and is therefore. unsatisfactory for ordinary uses. It has long been recognized that for successful burning of lime the gases evolved therefrom must esca e freely from the kiln, andvarious means ave been employed to facilitate the escapel of gases. It has been attempted, for instance, to burn limestone under a partial vacuum, but none of the processes heretofore employed has been successful on account of the inability to control accurately the combustion of the fuel.

under these conditions. It is a Well known fact that the higher the degree of vacuum, the lower will be the temperature necessary to remove carbon dioxide from limestone. in the systems heretofore employedhowever,` in which gases from the kiln were withdrawn under a partial vacuum and returned under the grate or fuel bed, there was an outstanding defect which prevented satisfactory operation of the process, namely, that as the vacuum or the system was increased, the supply of primary air was increased, which caused a greater supply of heat to be generated with the lower pressures in the system. This re- 1923. Serial N'o. 633,343, i

paratus for burning limestone for the production of lime whereby the pressures and ntemperatures may be controlled during the burning, and whereby a more uniform product and a greater heat efficiency are obtained than has heretofore been attained. y

Another object of the invention is to provide a process of burning limestone whereby the combustion of fuel may be regulated to correspond with the changes in pressure in the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for returning gases from the top of the kiln to the lower portion of the ki n above the fuel bed in order to dilute the combustion gases and to attain uniformity of heating without interference with regulation of fuel combustion.I

A further object of the invention is to provide means for introducingl steam either under the fuel bed, or both over and under the fuel bed, in order to assist in the release of carbon dioxidefrom the limestone at a low temperature.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the process and ap aratus hereinafter described and particular y defined in the claims.

The present invention overcomes the difficulties formerly encountered in the operation of lime' kilns in which gases are circulated, in that the combustion of fuel is rendered independent of the return of gases from the top ofthe kiln by introducing the gases to be returned to the system above the v furnace. By the'introduction of kiln gases into the furnace above the fuel'bed, the combustion gases from the furnace arediluted and cooled before coming into contact with the limestone, and the heat from the combus'tion of the fuel is thereby gradually and evenly imparted` to the material in the kiln.

In the preferred form of the invention provision is made for the introduction of steam either below or above the fuel bed to assist in the release of carbon dioxide from the limestone. By injecting steam above the fuel bed in the furnace the steam exerts its partial pressure in the mixture -of gases passing through the limestone and thus in effect it decreases the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the-gases. The proportion of carbon `dioxide-present in the gases is thus reduced and the tendency of carbon dioxide to come off from the limestone is greatly increased. By the injection of steam below the fuel bed the Well known water gas reaction takes place in which carbon monoxide and hydrogen are produced. By the simultaneous injection of the proper amount 'of air below the grate with the steam, however, a sufficient amount of oxygen is supplied so that the carbon monoxide, produced b the action of'steam on the carbon of thel uel, burns completely to carbon doxide, and the hydrogen resulting from the reaction burnsA to water vapor. The increase in the proportion of water vapor in the gases results in a decrease of the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide as explained above and therefore assists in the release of carbon dioxide from the limestone mass.

The invention maybe best described in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partly in sec` and apparatus associated tion, of the kiln therewith.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in detail of a portion of the furnace showing steam inv)ecting means above and below the furnace ate.

The preferred form of the invention coin-A rises a lime kiln having 'a vertical cylinrical shell 10 and a furnace 12 in connection therewith which extends outwardly from the shell near the base thereof, and is disposed in such a manner that. gases of combustion from the furnace ma pass freely to the'int'erior of the shell.- The ase of the shell 10 has a lining of heat insulatin material 14 which extends upwardly from't e base of the furnace, serving as supporting walls at the inner portion thereof, and extends downwardly and inwardly therefrom to form a suitable supporting surface for the charge in the kiln. At the lower portion of thekiln isa discharge outlet 16 which is normally closed by a cover plate 18. Below the discharge outlet of the kiin ai@ lining is -bniiin nnen n manner ns to form a large hollow space to enable the i .which the kiln may be charged, and which'is normally closed by means of a removable cover plate 24 serving to maintain la gas tight closure during the operation of the kiln.

The furnace 12 is preferably constructed with two sets of grate bars 26 and 28, the sets being positioned on opposite sides of the kiln. Above the grate bars are firing doors 30, 32 and below the grates are ash pits 34, 36, having doors 38 and 40 communicating therewith. An air pump or fan 42 connected to a pipe 44 is employed for forcing air into the ash pits below the grlate bars through pipes 46 and 48, communicating respectively with ash pits 34 and 36, and connected to the pipe 44. The air pipes 46 and 48 have dampers or valves 50 and 52 therein for regulating theadmission of air to the pipes.

During the operation of t e kiln, gases are withdrawn from theftop thereof through a Vpipe 54 by means of aifan or blower 58. The fan 58 is connected at its outlet with a pipe 60 rovi ed with valves 56,68 and 70 respectivey, by which the volume and pressure of the gases entering the kiln may be accurately controlled. In order to maintain the pressure 1n the kiln below atmospheric, it is necessary to withdraw gases therefrom at substantially a greater rate than the are generated b the evolution of carbon dioxide from. the mestone, and by the reglulated admission and passage ofair throng the fuel bed. To accom lish this result, a pipe 72, having a valve 74 t erein is attached to the .circulating system preferably at the 'unction of pipes 60 and 62 by which part o the waste gases may exhaust to` the atmosphere. Itis 'desirable under ordinary conditions to maintain a subatmosphericA pressure Aof substantiall minus four inches of water at the top of t e kiln,

and approximately minus two or three inches y Vof water at the points of admissionof return ess, the supply of air'being decreased as the temperature of the limestone in the kiln approaches the temperature at which carbon dioxide is evolved from the limestone.

In order to decrease the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide in the kiln, steam may be passed into the apparatuseither above or below the grate bars, or both above and below the grate bars, if desired. A detailed view showing the steam pipe connections'is shown in Fig. 2, a steam pipe 75 being connected to the ash pit below the grate bars 26 so as to inject air with the steam in the desired pro ortions through an aperture 80. The pipe $5 has a collar 79 thereon.y Collar 79 is adjustable toward and away from the contracting mouth 8l fitted on the outside of aperture 80 to regulate the effective opening of the aperture 81. Pipes 75 and 76 have va ves 77 and 78 therein to regulate the liow of steam. Steam pipes 76 are mounted in the open discharge ends of pipes 64 and 66 so that they, may be used as steam injectors for inducing circulation of gases removed from the top of the kiln through the combustion chambers of furnaces 12 and into the lower portion of the kiln. Steam injectors 7 5 may thus be used in place of pump 42 for introducing air into the heating furnace and steam injectors 76 may be used in place of or in conjunction with pump 58 for reintroducing gases removed from the top of the kiln through pipes 62, 64 and 66 into the lower portion of the kiln.

By the use of the method and apparatus which have been described an accurate control of calcining conditions may be maintained throughout the operation, and a uniform product is thereby attained. The improved method accelerates the burnin of lime due to the lower temperatures wiich :may be used for calcining. By maintaining a reduced pressure in the kiln a lower temperature may be used. B the use of steam the partial ressure of car on dioxide in the furnace wil be decreased which will permit the calcining of lime at a lower tem erature. Steam entering above the grates aects .the partial pressure of CO2 directly while steam entering below the rates affects the partial pressure of CO2 in irectly, but doubly due to the fact that in passing through the red hot fuel in the liuel bed it is decomposed into two molecules of C() and H2. The kiln gases and steam tend to produce a long flame combustion which carries the heat effectively u throu h the shaft, thus facilitating rapi lime urning operation. Therefore by diluting the combustion gases a larger body of heated gases is available for burning the lime and due to the fact that the lime may be Aburned at lower temperatures an increased capacity of the furnace is provided. Itis obvious that .various modifications may be made in the method and in the limestone from the top apparatus as will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention asdeined in the claims.

Any suitable charging means may be employed for charging the a paratus. It may e advantageous to use a c erging means by which the kiln may be continuously charged without breaking or substantially reducing the vacuum therein. Charging means suitable or this purpose are, however, known to the trade and therefore are not illustrated or claimed herein. It is obvious also that any desired form of discharging apparatus may be employed for discharging the finished product from the kiln fering with the vacuum therein or the opertion of the apparatus. The primary air which is forced under the fuel bed by the pump or fan 42 may be preheated by passing it through preheating ilues 45 inthe discharge end Yof the kiln.A The apparatus as described may be employed for burning limestone, dolomite, magnesite or other carbonate rock and is not limited-therefore ltoI theburning of limestonelt'o produce lime therefrom. 4 l

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

vl. A method for producing lime from limestone which comprises heating limestone under atmospheric pressure in a kiln by combustion gases while circulating a mixture of combustion gases and gases given olf bythe of the kiln to a point near the bottom of the kilnl and near the source of heat for the-kiln, and controlling lthe rates of introduction of gases into the kiln and of removal of gases from the top of the kiln so as to maintain a pressure of between 2 and 3 inches of water below atmospheric at the point where said circulated gases re-enter the kiln.

2. A method for producing lime from limestone which comprises heatlng limestone in a kiln by combustion gases while circulating a mixture of combustion gases and gases given oil by the limestone from the top of the kiln to a point near the bottom of the kiln and intermediate the kiln andthe source of said combustion gases, and controlling the rates of introduction of gases into the kiln and of removal of gases from the top of the kiln so as to maintain a pressure of between 2 and 3 inches of water below atmospheric at the point where said circulated gases reenter the kiln and a pressure of substantially 4 inches of water belowatmospheric vat the point where said circulated gases are taken' from the kiln.

3. In a paratus for burning lime, an upright shatkiln havin a heating gas inlet in its lowerportion an a as oil'take near its top, saidkiln bein j substantially sealed against entrance an exit vof gas 'exce t through said inlet and oitake, respective y,

without intera furnace combustion chamber communicatmg wlth said gas inlet, grates for support- O l l ing fuel 1n sald combustion chamber, and means whereby optlmumlime burning temperatures and pressures can be malntained in the k1ln,-sa1d means comprislng devices for delivering air at a controllable pressure and rate into said furnace from beneath said grates, and a pump and v alved connections or continuously circulating gases removed through said oftake at a controllable rate and pressure through that portion of the kiln lying between said inlet and said olftake.

4. In apparatus for burning lime, a kiln having a heating gas inlet opening thereinto y at one partthereof4 and-havin a gas offtake leading off therefrom at anot er point, said kiln being substantially sealed against entrance and exit of gas eXce t at said inlet .and offtake, respectively, a urnace combustion chamber, and means whereby optimum lime burnin temperatures and pressures are maintained 1n that part of the kiln lying between said gas inlet and oiftake, said means comprising a pump and connections for supplying air for supporting combustion of fuel in said combustion chamber at a controllablen rate and pressure, and another pump and conncctlons operable to remove gases from sald klln under vsubatmospheric pressure p through said ofltake andv to reintroduce gases thus removed into the kiln at a controlled. rate and pressure through said inlet.

`5. In apparatus for burning lime, a shaft kiln having a heating gas inlet nearits base and a gas oftake near its top, said kiln being substantiallyY sealed against entrance and exit of gas except through said inlet and offtake, respectively, a furnace combustion chamber 1n closed communication with said gas inlet, a pump and valved connections for delivering air at a controllable rate and pressure into said combustion chamber, a second pump having a closed connection between its suction sidenand the gas oitake of the kiln and means connected to the discharge side o of the furnace, means connected with the discharge side of the pump for recycling gases removed through said oftake and pum at a controllable rate and pressure into the s aft through said furnace and inlet, and a valved pi e connection for carrying` olf any excess vo ume of gases removed from the shaft through vsaid oltake and pump and not re` cycle 7. In lime burning apparatus, the combination of an upright shaft kiln having a heating l gas inlet near its base and having a gas olftake near its top, said kiln being substantiall sealed against entrance of air except throng said inlet, a furnace having a combustion chamber in closed communication with said inlet, a grate in said furnace underlying said combustion chamber, means for introducinlg air at a controlled rate and-pressure beneat said grate, means for introducing steam into said furnace at points located both above and beneath said grate, and a pump and connections for removin gases from the top of said shaft through sald oiftake and for reintroducing gases thus removed at a controlled rate and pressure into the shaft through said combustion chamber and gas inlet.

8. A method for producing lime from limestone which comprises heating a charge of the limestone in a kiln under a subatmospheric pressure which varies in different portions of the kiln, supplying the heat. for burning Vby means of a circuit-of hot gases which are passed upwardly through the charge then removed-from the top of the charge and reintroduced at a controlled rate and pressure into the lower portion of the charge admixed with heating gases in sufficient volume to maintain lime burning temperatures, and limiting the amount of air employed substantially to that which is supplied at a controlled rate and pressure to produce the heat-4 ing gases.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

GLENN H. NILES.

said second pump for recycling gases removed through said olftake at a controllable rate and pressure to said combustion chamber, means for supplying steam at a controllable rate and pressureto said combustion chamber, a pump having a closed connection between its suction side and the gas oitake yCERTIFICATE or connection.

Patent No. 1,798,802. Granted March 31, 1931;,

GLENN H. NILEs.

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofl the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line v95, elaillY l, for "atmospheric" read subatmospheric; and that the said Letters Patent .should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. 1 v

Signed and sealed this 16th day of February, A. vD. 1932.

M. J. Moore@-1 (Sell) Acting Comieaioner tot Pata'terff 

